What are the 3 must-see attractions in Singapore?

I feel as if every city has a certain number of really great attractions that always seem to be overlooked by tourists or even the general public. Having seen so many of the major attractions in Singapore (I've been to the zoo, Universal Studios, the bird park, Flyer, BeerMarket, etc), I'd like to try to find these less discovered gems. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to be there for two weeks in the late spring/early summer if that helps at all. Thanks!

By the way, I absolutely love this question. Because it's one I ask when I explore new lands and have signals that I have reached a new stage with the city and am ready to peel the layers and dig deep. Also, I must qualify that there's a personal vested interest. So here goes....

a) Old coffee roasting factory roasting coffee beans the local way.

b) Traditional bread factory. 1 of 5 remaining traditional bakeries in Singapore. Baker has been in this business for 30 years and being crowded out by the big boys.

c) Paper house maker that makes miniature paper houses, cars, courtyards, servants, etc. for the Chinese to burn for their deceased ancestors.

d) A walk on the wild side in Geylang Singapore's legalized red light district. A bustle of activity especially at night, aside from the dodgy shady sex trade, Geylang is known for great food. Don't forget too, to sit by the roadside and eat tropical fruits like durian. It doesn't get more local than that.

e) Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre at 3 a.m. Yes 3 a.m. where wholesalers negotiate for prices daily for vegetables, etc. This is something that possibly 98% of Singaporeans may never have experience.

g) Amble about near Waterloo Street to witness locals praying at Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple and Sri Krishnan Temple. The former a Buddhist Temple and the latter a South Indian Hindu Temple...side by side! In fact, the whole area is known as the holiest street in Singapore with a few Churches, a Synagogue and Mosque all nearby.

(a), (b) and (c) are activities that I have seek out and have special access to. For example, the old coffee factory is run by a guy who knows a guy....., and he only allows me to bring people there on Thursday morning. (b) and (c) are part of a special tour I run called Disappearing Trades of Singapore (google if you're keen).

Hey Stanley, I'm so sorry I haven't been actively checking my Trippy account till now. (b) and (c) are both parts of a tour I run called Disappearing Trades. (a) is one component of a tour called Good Morning Singapore. You can google both. Here's the link for the morning tour. http://www.tribe-tours.com/tours/good-morning-singapore.
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(0likelikes)

Very few people now are going to Chinese Garden .A great place for walking and photography. Watching the sunset here definitely brings an awesome feeling. Around the vicinity, you can see majestic pagodas, Chinese landscapes & architectures, and some animals too like turtles & giant lizards either swimming on the lake or roaming around the garden.

That's cool! Tip: Bring some bottled water with you. It might be a little humid there. The last time I went for photo walk, the vending machines are not working. So just be ready ;) Hope you enjoy the view there!
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(0likelikes)

I spent a day in Pulau Ubin (Island) It was amazing. I rented a bike and peddled around lush tropical jungle wetlands with wild pigs, amazing bird life, and mangrove forest along the shoreline.

Next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (already included in a previous answer is MacRitchie Park. They have miles of trails where you can disappear from the city and forget you are in one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Another outdoor area is Sungei Buloh Nature Cove Great place to see wetland wildlife including monitor lizards and if you are lucky, crocodiles.

East Coast Park is definitely worth the trip to the edge of town (take a cab). It's expansive and serene, quite a contrast to busy and developed central city. Watching the thousands of shipped anchored just off shore is a surreal sight you can probably only get in few places in the world. And the combination of the East Coast Seafood Centre and the East Coast Lagoon Hawker Food Centre provides awesome food in this unique setting too.